73-year-old Grady Samuel Hicks of Damascus Church Road in Statesville will face an additional 42 counts of indecent liberties as the result of an ongoing investigation into sex abuse allegations against him. He was initially arrested and charged with 18 sex offenses, as reported by WHKY on January 22.

The latest charges were filed as the investigation identified another victim. That individual, who is now 20 years old, was victimized over a three-to-four-year period when the victim was between the ages of 12 & 15. The victim said the incidents occurred while going to and from church with Hicks and also on hunting and fishing trips he took with Hicks. The victim said numerous incidents occurred from July of 2006 to December of 2009.

Hicks’ next appearance in an Iredell County courtroom was scheduled for April 24.

Lincolnton Police are asking for the public’s help in solving a case that began at about 4:30 p.m. on January 22 when a suspect took $100 from a cashier at the Wal-Mart store on North Generals Boulevard.

The suspect is a black male who bought a pack of gum with a $100 dollar bill. As the cashier made change, the suspect said he had received the wrong change. The suspect switched the change and the $100 dollar bill with the cashier several times before keeping both. The suspect then came back to the register with a pack of drinks and attempted to repeat the process, but the cashier would not exchange any more money with the man.

The suspect was wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt. He left the scene driving a Kia with Georgia plate number PKR8229.

Anyone with information regarding the crime should call Lincolnton Police at 704-736-8900 or call Lincolnton-Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909. Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest could result in a reward of up to $1,000.

Today (February 24) is "Take A Bite" out of hunger day in Catawba County. Inclement weather forced the event to be postponed last week. Participating restaurants will donate 10% of today's food sales to the food pantry at the Cooperative Christian Ministry of Greater Hickory. Participating restaurants are listed at whky.com.

The man who was shot and killed after breaking into a home yesterday (February 23) on Riverbend Road in Claremont has been identified as 47-year-old Vernon Bobby Dixon, whose last listed address was in Maiden.

Dixon and another unknown white male allegedly broke into the home through the basement at about 9:25 a.m. The homeowner heard noise and called 9-1-1. As he did so, Dixon kicked in a door. The homeowner, armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, fired once, hitting Dixon in the chest.

Dixon died en route to the hospital. The second suspect remains at large. Investigators believe he fled the scene in a dark blue mini-van, according to Catawba Co. Sheriff Coy Reid.

The Sheriff said the homeowner will most likely not be charged. The second suspect could be charged in connection to Dixon’s death because he was involved in the commission of a felony resulting in the death of a person.

42-year-old Chan Heng Sok of 8th Avenue S.E. in Hickory was arrested by Hickory Police at 8:45 yesterday morning on one felony count of possession of a schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of assault on a female and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested when Police responded to a domestic dispute at Sok’s residence. In the course of the investigation, Officers found drug paraphernalia and one gram of methamphetamine.

The domestic dispute did not result in any significant injuries.

Sok was placed in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility where he is being held without bond. An appearance in District Court was set for March 4.

According to a release from the Burke Co. Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division, Dawayne Ray Fry II has died as the result of a gunshot wound. At about 2:15 p.m. on Saturday (February 21), Burke County Sheriff’s Officers responded to 110 U.S. Highway 70 East in Valdese where Fry was found, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Fry was transported to Valdese Hospital and then flown to Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte. He was pronounced dead at the hospital in Charlotte.

Investigators with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office have been in contact with the District Attorney’s Office regarding the case. The incident remains under investigation.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, responding agencies included the Valdese Police Department, Burke County Emergency Medical Service and Lovelady Fire & Rescue First Responders.

46-year-old David Alan Jenkins and 23-year-old Opie Alvers Jones III, who are both listed as homeless persons from Hickory, were arrested by Hickory Police yesterday (February 22) on felony drug charges. Jenkins was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance and possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to manufacture, while Jones was charged with possession of immediate precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture. Jones was also charged with failure to appear on one count of misdemeanor larceny.

The two were taken into custody without incident on the 1100 block of Catawba Valley Boulevard S.E. They were each given a $50,000 secured bond, plus a $5,000 bond for Jones for failure to appear. First appearances in District Court were set for today in Newton.

32-year-old Kevin O’Neal Carroll of 33rd Avenue N.E. in Hickory was arrested by Hickory Police at about 6 p.m. Saturday (February 21) on one count of misdemeanor larceny.

Carroll was arrested after a Loss Prevention Officer at the Kohl’s store on Catawba Valley Boulevard saw him swallow a pair of sterling silver earrings in an attempt to avoid detection. The earrings were valued at $25.

Loss Prevention detained the suspect until Police arrived. At last report, the earrings had not been recovered.

Carroll was taken to the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $900 secured bond. He has since been released. A first appearance in District Court was set for March 19 in Hickory.

25-year-old Jamie Thorne Fox of Keener Road in Lincolnton and 27-year-old Jonathan Kyle Hunt of Luna Lane in Dallas have both been arrested by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Officers on drug charges. Fox was charged with one felony count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell & deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hunt faces misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

They were arrested as Narcotics Investigators followed up on tips from Fox’s Keener Road neighborhood. Investigators went to Fox’s residence last night (February 19) after conducting surveillance and gathering information that led them to believe there were drugs in the home. Investigators received consent to search the residence and found marijuana that qualified for a felony charge because of the way it was packaged.

Fox was taken into custody and processed at the Lincoln County Detention Center. He released on a $20,000 secured bond. Hunt was also released on a $2,500 secured bond. No court dates are currently listed.

Narcotics Lt. Jason Reid encourages citizens call the Tip Line at 704-736-8422. According to the Lieutenant, 75% of the department’s drug arrests begin with information received on the tip line.

21-year-old Bradley O’Neil Caldwell, Jr. of North Wilkesboro was arrested yesterday (February 19) in Tennessee in connection to the February 12 theft of a vehicle in Hickory. He was charged with one felony count each of breaking & entering a motor vehicle and larceny of a motor vehicle. In addition, Caldwell was served indictments on a long list of charges from Wilkes, Catawba and Mecklenburg counties. Those include six counts of misdemeanor larceny, three counts of possession of stolen goods, two felony counts of larceny, one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, one count of resisting an officer, one count of financial card theft, two counts of breaking & entering and one count of obtaining property under false pretenses.

He is accused of stealing a 2007 Mazda from the 1000 block of 21st Avenue N.W. in Hickory. A credit card in the vehicle was used at a large retail store in Wilkesboro. Investigators analyzed surveillance from the store and were able to identify Bradley Caldwell as the suspect. His name was entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

Authorities in Washington County, Tennessee found and recovered the Mazda. Caldwell was arrested in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It’s not clear if Caldwell’s arrest took place at the same time as the recovery of the vehicle.

Caldwell has been jailed in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $149,500 secured bond. A first appearance in District Court was scheduled for today in Newton.

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